If all goes as planned, Scotland will be the first part of the UK to legalize same-sex marriage, even though surveys show that the majority of Scots disapprove of the decision.

"We are committed to a Scotland that is fair and equal and that is why we intend to proceed with plans to allow same-sex marriage and religious ceremonies for civil partnerships," says the deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon. "We believe that this is the right thing to do."

Wow. Can you imagine any major U.S. politician saying anything like that?

The government said religious groups won't be forced to officiate gay marriages if they don't want to, and that the first marriages will likely take place in 2015.